St Aidan's Cathedral


Restored to its original glory (check out the star-spangled roof), this dazzling Roman Catholic cathedral (1846) was designed by Augustus Pugin, the architect behind the Houses of Parliament in London.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Athenaeum

0.16 MILES

Built as a theatre and town hall in 1892, the Athenaeum became the headquarters for Enniscorthy's volunteers during the 1916 Easter Rising. A small museum…

2. Enniscorthy Castle

0.17 MILES

This stout, four-towered keep was originally built by the Normans; like much else in these parts, it was surrendered to Cromwell in 1649. During the 1798…

3. National 1798 Rebellion Centre

0.41 MILES

This exhibition does a fine job of explaining the background to one of Ireland's pivotal historical events. It covers the French and American revolutions,…

4. Vinegar Hill

0.75 MILES

Scene of one of the most important battles of Ireland's 1798 rebellion against British rule, this hill just outside Enniscorthy is topped with a memorial…

5. Ferns Castle

6.79 MILES

Ferns Castle was built around 1220, but parliamentarians destroyed the castle and executed most of the local population during Cromwell's rampage through…

6. St Edan's Cathedral

6.88 MILES

Built in early Gothic style in 1817, Ferns' 'modern' cathedral is thought to be the smallest in Europe. Its graveyard contains a high cross, said to mark…

7. Irish National Heritage Park

10.92 MILES

Over 9000 years of Irish history are squeezed together at this open-air museum 5.5km west of the town centre. After a short audiovisual presentation, take…

8. Curracloe Beach

11.8 MILES

Soft white sand, gentle surf and lack of development are the big draws of the 11km-long, Blue Flag–rated Curracloe Beach. Families flock here on sunny…